Multistation rivet selector



Sept; 22, 1-942. D 2,296,658

MULTISTAT-ION RIVET SELECTOR Filed Feb; 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L/JH UAWZ FD Sept. 22, 1942. WARD 2,296,658

MULTISTATION RIVET SELECTOR Filed Feb. 13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LUmAWA/m WWW Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 13, 1941, Serial No. 378,709

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to rivet selectors for riveting machines and the like and more particularly to a selector for selecting a rivet from any one of a plurality of rivet stations having chutes feeding rivets thereto.

Objects to be riveted frequently require rivets of different sizes, depending on the thickness of the parts being secured together. When doing such riveting with a riveting machine having an tions 6, I, 8 and 9 are arranged in the form of an arc and it is from these stations that the rivet selector selects rivets and feeds them to a chute l shown particularly in Fig. 1, which conducts the selected rivets to the point of use. Both in the claims and specification, it is to be understood that to the point of use means either directly to the anvil, to rivet holding jaws, to transfer mechanism for transferring the rivets to an anvil, or

automatic rivet feed, it becomes necessary to have to a similar position. a rivet selector with which rivets may be selected The selector, according to the present invenat will from any one of a plurality of stations, tion, is mounted on a frame plate ll, secured to each carrying rivets of a different size. The presthe frame I, as by screws I2. Pivotally secured ent invention provides a multi-station rivet selecto the frame plate I I by a bolt [3 is a base M. The tor which is simple in construction and control base I4 is in the form of a plate having a portion and is positive in its operation. of the periphery thereof arcuate in configura- An object of the invention is to provide a multition and the are having the same radius and station rivet selector. center of curvature as the arc defined by the sta Another object of the invention is to provide a tions 6, l, 8 and 9. The bolt 3 is provided with a rivet selector which is movable into cooperative shoulder l8, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, which relation with any one of several rivet stations. bears against the frame plate I. The head I9 Still another object of the invention is to proof the bolt i3 is recessed in the base [4, as shown vide a multi-station rivet selector having assoparticularly in Fig. .7, and permits pivotal moveciated therewith a movable chute, both the chute ment of the base 14 about the bolt l3. and the selector being movable into cooperating Secured to and spaced from the base 14 by relation with any one of several rivet stations shouldered studs 20 and screws 2| is a support 22. to select a rivet and direct it to another chute The support 22 is in the form of a plate and is for conducting the rivet lfJOtIiItS placetof use.t parallel to the base M. The support 22 has pivoted A still further object o e inven ion is 0 pro to it by a pin 25 the arm 23 of a selector 24. The vide a novel actuating mechanism for rivet selecpin 25 is provided with a shoulder 26 in order to tors. h b t d th permit free pivotal movement of the selector 24 he e a 0t 1' 0 3' S reSi in 6 about the pin 25. The pin 25 is secured in the bination, arrangement and construction of the upport 22 by a t screw 21 parts will be apparent from the following sp The axis of the pin 25 about which the selector fication wire?1 taken with the a co p y draW- 2d pivots, extends through the center of curvature S 111 W 10 I of the arc rovided b the rivet stations 6 I, 8 Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the invention and 9 and through the axis of the bolt Supp9rted from the frame of a riveting machine or The selector 2 3 is provided with a segment having the an outer edge 28 concentric with and in contiguity t a sectlon on the IIH of t with the are provided by the stations 6, 1,8 and s. i 3 sectl 0n on E 11.ne III IH of i The selector 24 is provided with selecting fingers i 4 860mm on i IV IV 29 and 30, shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. t 5 a section on t Y The fingers 29 and 30 are in the form of plates 6 1S sectlon on 6 me 0 secured by screws 31 and pins 32, as shown parand ticularly in Fig 4 to the body of the selector 24 Figigi. '7 1s a partial section on the line VIIVII of AS appears from Figs. 3 and 4) the fingers 29 Referring particularly to the drawings the and 3t! have outer surfaces following the outer reference character ,1 indicates the frame of a arcuate Surface of the Selector body riveting machine or the like. Associated with the sultably Secured the base fi spaced from frame are rivet chutes 2, 3, 4 and 5, into which h suirface thereof by the studs flat metalrivets are fed by conventional hopper mechanism, 110 str 110$ 39 Spaced apart and extendmg from the the hopper mechanism not being shown on the outer curved surface of the base l4 to adJacent the drawings. The chutes 2, 3, 4 and 5 terminate in aXls 0f the bolt provldlng Wlth the base 14 rivet stations 6, l, 8 and 9 respectively. The staa Supplementary rivet Chute Outer s of the strips 39 are arcuate and concentric with the arc of rivet stations 6, I, 8 and 9.

The arm 23 of the selector 24 is provided with a tail piece 48, the end of which is bifurcated to provide a slot 4|. The tail piece 40 is angularly disposed to the arm 23 as shown particularly in Fig. 1. The selector 24 is oscillated to select a rivet from any one of the stations 6, I, 8 and 9 by a pin 42, extending through an arcuate slot 43 in the support 22 into fixed engagement with an actuating arm 44, pivoted to the support 22 by a shoulder screw 45. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the shoulder screw 45 is connected to the support 22 at-a point spaced from the axis of the pin 25. On the actuating arm 44 at the opposite side thereof from the pin 42 there is provided a knob 45, loosely pivoted thereto by a shoulder pin 41. The knob 46, the actuating arm 44 and the pin 41 are held in assembled relation by a set screw 48.

It will be seen from the description thus far that the selector 24 may be rocked back and forth about the pin 25 by rocking the arm 44 about the screw 45, the motion from the arm 44 being transmitted to the tail piece 48 of the selector 24 by the pin 42, extending through the arcuate slot 43 into the slot 4| in the end of the tail piece 49. Rocking movement to the actuating arm 44 is provided by a leaf spring 50 extending into a slot extending transversely across the knob 46. The leaf spring 59 is cantilevered from an arm 52 pivoted about a shoulder' screw 53 threaded into the frame I. The arm'5'Z is rocked back and forth about the screw 53 by 'a' connecting rod 54, connected off-center to the end of a shaft 55 by a shoulder screw 56. The shaft 55 is pivotally supported for rotation in a bearing member 51, generally shown in Fig. 1 and suitably mounted in the frame I. For adjusting the length of the connecting rod 54 it is provided with an adjustment structure 58. The shaft 55 preferably is a part of the machine with which the selector is associated which makes one complete rotation each time the machine is actuated to upset a rivet. Thus as the machine is actuated to upset a rivet, the arm 52 is given a single back and forth motion, and this motion is transmitted through the cantilevered leaf spring 50 to the knob 46 and from the knob 46 through the actuating arm 44 and the pin 42 to the selector 2 4. I

The selector 24 and the supplementary chute 38 are illustrated in Fig. 1 as being in operative relation with the rivet station! of the chute 3. The selector 24 and the supplementary chute '38 maybe brought into operative relation with any of'the stations 6,1, 8 or 9' at will by appropriately moving the base I4 about the bolt I3. In order to maintain the base 14 in adjusted'relation so as to hold the selector 24 and the supplementary chute 38 in operativerelation with the desired rivet station 6, I, 8 or 9, the frame plate I l is provided with four holes 6|, 52, 63 and E54, one for each of the rivetstations't; 8,'1'and 6 respectively. Disposed in the base 14 is an opening 65 having the same diameter as the holes Si, 62, 63 and 64. The outer side of the opening 65 is closed by a member 68 having a bore 6'! therethrough for receiving a pin 68. Disposed about thepin 68 within the opening 65 is a spring 59, which bears against the member 58 and against the enlarged end portion of the pin 58. The opposite end of the pin -68 is pinned to a button II. From Fig. 6'it will appear that by pulling outwardly on the button" H, the spring 69 may be compressed to draw the enlarged end portion 10 into the opening 65 to permit relative movement between the base l4 and the frame plate I I and that upon the release of the button H, the enlarged portion 10 will drop into the one of the holes BI, 62, 63 or 64 over which it is placed. Thus, in order to move the selector 24 and the supplementary chute 38 from operative association with the rivet station I into operative association with the rivet station 8, for instance, the button H is manually moved outwardly against the resistance of the spring 69 to withdraw the enlarged end portion 10 from the hole 63. Then, still holding on the button H, the base I4 is rotated about the bolt [3 to bring the enlarged portion 18 over the hole 82. At this position, the button I! is released, permitting the spring 69 to force the enlarged portion 10 into the hole 62 to rigidly hold the selector 24 and the supplementary chute 38 in operative association with the rivet station 8.

As appears particularly from Fig. 5, the flat strips 39 above the surface of the base l4, cooperating with the surface of the base l4 to provide the supplementary rivet chute 38, are in the plane of the front plates 13 of the chutes 2, 3, 4 and 5. and the back plates 14 of the chutes 2, 3, 4 and 5 terminate in abutting relation with the outer arcuate surface 28 of the base l4, the front surfaces thereof being in the plane of the front surface of the base l4. Also, the supplementary chute 38 is in alignment with the chute 3. Thus the outer arcuate surfaces of the fingers 29 and 38 and the outer arcuate surface of the left strip 39 prevent the escape of rivets from the rivet stations not in operative relation with the selector 24 and the supplementar chute 38. The escape of rivets from the rivet station i into the supplementary chute 38 on the base I4 is prevented by the selecting finger 29 which has a pointed nose portion 15, shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, in overlapping relation with the opening of the station I, which is the lower end of the chute 3 and in alignment with the supplementary chute 38. The selecting finger 38 has a lowered edge 16, spaced downwardly from the outer arcuate surface 28 of the base I4. As shown in Fig. 1, the selecting finger 38 has its inner side edge terminating in alignment with the inner edge of the left flat strip 39, providing a part of the supplementary chute 38.

The angular rocking of the selector 241 is limited by pins 11 and I8, projecting outwardly from the base M. The selector 24 is continuously urged against the stop pin 11 by the resiliency of the cantilevered leaf spring 58. The cantilevered leaf spring 50 may be positioned to urge the selector 24 against the pin i1 through the actuating arm 44, the pin 42 and the tail piece 40 of the selector 24 by properly positioning the shoulder screw 55 in the end of the shaft 55 and by adjusting the connecting rod 54 to give it the necessary length. It will be understood that the position of the shoulder screw 56 and the length of the connecting rod 54 will also be a factor in the providing of the selector 24 with a rocking of sufiicient amplitude to actuate the selecting fingers 29 and 30 to select a rivet from the rivet station with which the selector 24 is operatively associated.

In operation, the button 1| is first manipulated to associate the selector 24 with the desired rivet station 6, I, 8 or 9. At the same time, the

supplementary chute 38'will be automatically positioned in alignment with the selected rivet station. The riveting machine or the like with which the selector is associated is then tripped providing the shaft 55 with a complete rotation. Through the off-center positioning of the shoulder screw 56, the connecting rod 54 is actuated to rock the arm 52 about its shoulder screw 53. The movement of the arm 52 rocks the cantilevered leaf spring back and forth once to rock the actuating arm 44 about its shoulder screw 45, moving with it the pin 42 to rock the tail piece 40 of the arm 23 of the selector 24 about the pin 25.

The selector in being rocked moves to the right and then back to its starting position viewing the structure in Figs. 1 and 3. As the selector 24 moves to the right, the selecting finger 29 moves to the right permitting a rivet at the rivet station I to drop onto the lowered edge 16 of the selecting finger 39. The lowered edge 76 is so spaced from the rivet station I as topermit the movement of only one rivet from the rivet station I. As the selector 24 is returned to its original position, the pointed nose 15 thereof moves between the rivet selected and the one above it to prevent later downward movement of the last rivet not selected. At the same time, the rivet which has fallen into the supplementary chute 38 on the base I4 is drawn from the lowered surface 76 of the selecting finger 30 by the selecting finger 39 moving to the left of the supplementary chute 38.

When the lowered edge 1'6 has been moved from beneath the selected rivet to its left position, the selected rivet falls through the supplementary chute 38 into the chute l8 which terminates at the axis of rotation of the selector 24 and falls down the chute l into position to be used. The front plates 19 of the chute It! are suitably supported from a block 80 on the frame plate H in alignment with the flat strips 39 supported in front of the base l4 forming the front of the supplementary chute 38, and the rear plate SI of the chute i0 is recessed in the block 80 as shown in Fig. 7 to place its front surface in alignment with the front surfaceof the block 86. The block 80 has an arcuate edge 82, shown in Fig. 1, concentric with the arcuate edge 83 of the bearing boss 84 of the base l4 and has its front surface in the plane of the front surface of the base. [4 so that the front surface of the block 80 constitutes a continuation of the bottom of the supplementary chute 38. It will be apparent from Fig. 1, that both strips 19 of the fixed chute in, the upper ends of which terminate at the level of the axis of the bolt [3 and the flat strips 39 of the movable supplementary chute '38, the lower ends of which terminate adjacent the axis of the bolt I3 and are tapered, are arranged so as to provide a rivet passing connection from the chute 38 to the chute l0 regardless of the rotative position of the base l4, placing the selector 24 in operative association with any one of the rivet stations 6, I, 8 or 9.

While the invention has been described as relating to the selection of rivets, it will be understood that other upsettable members than rivets may be equally as well selected by the apparatus acording to the present invention. Furthermore, it is not considered an essential feature of the invention that exactly four rivet stations be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. A multi-station rivet selector comprising a plurality of rivet stations, a shiftable rivet selector, means to shift at will said selector into operative relation with any one of said stations, means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector, and means to actuate said selector to select a rivet from the station With which it is in operative relation.

2. A multi-station rivet selector comprising a plurality of rivet stations, arranged in the form of an arc, a rivet selector having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, shiftable at will about the center of curvature of said arc into operative relation with any one of said stations and being arranged for pivotal movement about said center of curvature to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

3. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base shiftable with respect to said frame, a plurality of rivet stations fixed with respect to said frame, a shiftable rivet selector carried by said base, and means to shift said base to bring said selector into operative relation with any one of said stations, means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector, and means to actuate said selector independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation.

4. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a 'rivet selector, carried by said base, having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said arc to bring said selector into operative relation with any desired one of said stations, said selector being arranged for pivotal movement about said center of curvature independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

5. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a support rigid with respect to said base, a rivet selector carried by said support having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said arc to bring said selector into operative relationwith any one of said stations, said selector pivoted to said support at said center of curvature of said arc, and being arranged for pivotal movement about said center of curvature to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

6. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a rivet selector, carried by said base, having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said are to bring said selector into operative relation with any desired one of said stations, a chute, carried by said base, for receiving selected rivets, said chute having one end for alignment with the station with which said selector is in operative relation and having the other end terminating adjacent said center of rotation, another chute carried by said frame, having its upper end terminating adjacent said center of rotation in receiving relation with said first named receiving chute for receiving rivets from said first named receiving chute and conducting them to their place of use, said selector being arranged for pivotal movement about said center of curvature independently of said base to select a rivet from the stationwi-th which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of saidstations not in operative relation with said selector.

7. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base shift-able with respect to said frame, a plurality of rivet stations fixed with respect to said frame, a shiftable rivet selector carried by said base, means to shift said base to bring said select-er into operative relation with any one of said stations, means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector, a chute having an upper end carried by said frame, a second chute for receiving selected rivets, said second chute having one end movable into alignment with the station with which said selector is in operative relation and having the other end terminating adjacent said upper end of said first named chute, said firstnamed chute receiving rivets from said second named chute and conducting them to their place of use, and means to actuate said selector independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation.

8. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame,

a rivet selector, carried by said base, having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for scillation about the center of curvature of said are to bring said selector into operative relation with any desired one of said stations, an arm pivoted with respect to said base for pivoting said selector about said center of curvature independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector. 7

9. In a multi-station rivet selector for riveting machines and the like, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a rivet selector, carried by said base, having an arcuate surface concentric with said are, means carried by said frame toguide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said are to bring said selector into operative relation with any desired one of said stations, a cantilevered leaf spring operatively connected to said selector, an operative connection between an operative element of the machine with which the selector is associated and said spring to actuate said spring once each cycle of operation of the said machine to provide said selector with a pivotal movement about said center of curvature independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

10. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form ofan arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a support rigid with respect to said base, a rivet selector carried by said support having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said are to bring said selector into operative relation with any one of said stations, said selector being pivoted to said support at said center of curvature of said are, an arm pivoted to said support at a point spaced from said center of curvature, means to pivot said arm under predetermined conditions, and an operative connection between said arm and said selector to transfer pivotal movement from said arm to said selector for selecting a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

11. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a support rigid with respect to said base, a rivet selector carried by said support having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said are to bring said selector into operative relation with any one of said stations, said selector being pivoted to said support at said center of curvature of said arc, an arm pivoted to said support at a point spaced from said center of curvature, a cantilevered leaf spring operatively connected to said arm, an operative connection between an operative element of the machine with which the selector is associated and said spring to actuate said spring, under predetermined conditions of operation of said machine to provide said selector with a pivotal movement about said center of curvature independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

12. In a multi-station rivet selector for riveting machines and the like, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations, arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a rivet selector, carried by said base, having an arcuate surface concentric with said are, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said are to bring said selector into operative relation with any desired one of said stations, a chute, carried by said base, for receiving selected rivets, said chute having one end for alignment with the station with which said selector is in operative relation and having the other end terminating adjacent said center of rotation, another chute carried by said frame, having its end terminating adjacent said center of rotation in receiving relation with said first named receiving chute for receiving rivets from said first named receiving chute and conducting them to their place of use, a cantilevered leaf spring operatively connected to said selector, an operative connection between an operative element of the machine with which the selector is associated and said spring to actuate said spring under predetermined conditions of operation of the said machine to provide said selector with a pivotal movement about said center of curvature independently of, said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation With said selector.

13. In a multi-station rivet selector, a frame, a base, a plurality of rivet stations arranged in the form of an arc, fixed with respect to said frame, a rivet selector, carried by said base, having an arcuate surface concentric with said arc, means carried by said frame to guide said base for oscillation about the center of curvature of said arc to bring said selector into operative relation with any desired one of said stations, said selector being arranged for pivotal movement about said center of curvature independently of said base to select a rivet from the station with which it is in operative relation, stops on said base for limiting the range of pivotal movement of said selector, yieldable actuating means yieldably urging said selector against one of said stops between rivet selecting movements and providing said selector with rivet selecting movement under predetermined conditions, and means to prevent the movement of rivets from those of said stations not in operative relation with said selector.

14. A rivet selector comprising a frame, a rivet station fixed with respect to said frame, rivet selecting fingers, an arm supporting said fingers, means pivoting said arm with respect to said frame, a cantilevered leaf spring for oscillating said arm under predetermined conditions to provide said fingers with a rivet selecting movement, stops for limiting the movement of said fingers, and means for actuating said cantilevered leaf spring.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of rivet stations, a chute, a supplementary chute in cooperating relation with said first named chute for directing selected rivets into said first named chute, a rivet selector, means to move said rivet selector and supplementary chute into cooperating relation with any one of said rivet stations, and means to actuate said selector to select a rivet from the station with which it is in cooperating relation and to direct it into said supplementary chute.

LOYD A. WARD. 

